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Experiment An investigation that establishes a particular set of circumstances under a specified protocol to observe
and evaluate the implications of the resulting observations (This is Kuehls definition. It is hard to understand
unless you already know what an experiment is.)
Treatments The set of circumstances created for an experiment
Experimental Unit A physical entity or subject exposed to the treatment independently of the other units
Response Variable A characteristic of an experimental unit measured after treatment and analyzed to address the
objectives of the experiment
Describe the treatments, experimental units, and response variables for each of the experiments described below.
1. A field experiment is conducted to compare the yield of three varieties of corn. A field containing 30 plots of
land is used for the experiments. Each variety is planted on 10 randomly selected plots. The yield for each
plot is measured at the time of harvest.
2. An experiment is conducted to compare the effect of three drugs on the lean percentage of hogs. A total of 30
hogs are assigned to the three drugs in a completely randomized fashion so that 10 hogs will receive weekly
injections with each drug. The lean percentage of each hog is recorded at the time of slaughter.
Experimental Error Accounts for the fact that experimental units treated independently and identically will not
have identical response variable measurements
Experiment (definition 2) An investigation in which the investigator applies some treatments to experimental units
and then proceeds to observe the effect of the treatments on the experimental units by measuring one or more
response variables
Observational Study An investigation in which the investigator observes units and measures one or more response
variables without imposing treatments on the individuals
A researcher studying hospital records finds that the average recovery time for heart attack survivors who own dogs
is significantly shorter than average the recovery time for heart attack survivors who do not own a pet of any kind.
The researcher concludes that owning a dog reduces recovery time for heart attack survivors.
1. Is this an experiment or an observational study? Explain.
2. Is the researchers conclusion justified? Explain.
3. Describe an experiment that could be used to determine if owning a dog reduces recovery time for heart attack
survivors.
4. Explain why it might be inappropriate to conduct an experiment in this case.
Factor An explanatory variable studied in an investigation that can be set at any one of two or more values
Levels The different values of a factor
Full Factorial Treatment Design The treatments consist of all possible combinations of the levels of the factors
of interest
Suppose we are conducting an experiment to determine the optimal time and temperature combination for baking
a cake. The response variable of interest is taste. We are willing to consider three baking temperatures (275 F ,
300 F , and 325 F ) and two baking times (25 and 30 minutes). Four batches of cake will be baked separately at
each combination of baking time and temperature.
1. What are the experimental units?